Computers & Technology

ITEMS

180,234

VIEWS

Jul 30, 2005 07/05

by Jason Scott / TEXTFILES.COM

eye 180,234

The BBS Documentary Video Collection is a varied set of video items collected by Jason Scott, curator of TEXTFILES.COM. These are recordings about and from the era of the domination of ASCII and Dial-up Bulletin Board Systems (roughly the 1970s through the 1990s, with examples far before and after that). Over 250 hours of interviews were conducted for a project called "BBS: The Documentary" (website at bbsdocumentary.com). The questions centered around the history of Dial-up BBSes but...

53,587 54K

Gary Kildall Special

Jul 31, 2002 07/02

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A profile on computer pioneer Gary Kildall and the important contributions he made to the PC industry including the true story on how IBM ended up using MS-DOS rather than CP/M. Kildall developed CP/M, the first personal computer operating system. He was also a co-host on the early Computer Chronicles series. Includes comments by Gordon Eubanks, Symantec; Tom Rolander, DRI; Tim Bajarin, Creative Strategies; Lee Lorenzen, DRI; Jacqui Morby, TA Associates; Alan Cooper, CP/M applications...
( 11 reviews )
Topics: Episode year: 2001, Episode year: 1995, Operating systems: CP/M, the first operating system,...

44,256 44K

Amiga and Atari

Feb 25, 2007 02/07

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favorite 16

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How much computer can you get at the bottom end of the market - comparison between the Commodore Amiga and the Atari 520ST.Guests: Rick Geiger, Commodore; Tim Mott, Electronic Arts; Bryan Kerr, Atari; Jim Tittsler, Atari; Lewis Moore, Home Computing; George Morrow, Morrow Computing; Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Tim Bajarin, Creative StrategiesProducts/Demos: Atari 800, Commodore 64, Amiga IBM PC Emulator, Commodore Amiga, Atari 520, STNEO Paint. Originally broadcast in December 1985....
( 4 reviews )
Topics: Episode Year: 1985, Television Programs, Computers: History, amiga, atari

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: John Sheetz

31,461 31K

Aug 11, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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favorite 6

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Interview with John Sheetz for BBS: The Documentary. Conducted on March 22nd, 2003 in New Providence, New Jersey. Discussions center around teletype art and the use of Ham Radio to transfer text-based images. Techniques in creating RTTY art, the process of transferring artwork over Ham Radio, and some occasional copyright issues are all covered. Speculations on the future of the art, as well as what other skills Mr. Sheetz picked up in the medium. Sadly, Mr. Sheetz passed away in January of...
( 1 reviews )
Topics: bbs, documentary, sheetz

31,342 31K

Amiga 3000

Jul 2, 2007 07/07

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For fans of the Commodore Amiga, the introduction of the new Amiga 3000 was big news, even though the price tag was nearly $4,000. This program looked at the new Amiga computer and new third party appplications. Demonstrations include the Amiga 3000, the Amiga 2500, the AmigaVision authoring system, The Animation Studio, and the Video Toaster from NewTek. Also includes a visit to FAUG, the First Amiga Users Group, in Palo Alto. Guests include Paul Montgomery, Tim Jenison, Lou Wallace, and...
( 5 reviews )
Topics: Episode Year: 1988, Television Programs, Computers: History, amiga, commodore, video toaster

21,170 21K

The New Amigas

Jun 12, 2007 06/07

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Before there was a Macintosh, the Amiga was the computer for the creative community. This program looks at the Amiga 2000, the Amiga 500, Photon Video Cell Animator, Music X, Video Toaster, and Interceptor. Originally broadcast in 1988.
( 6 reviews )
Topics: amiga, commodore, video toaster

14,211 14K

Amiga 2500

Jun 12, 2007 06/07

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A look at the new Amiga models including the Amiga 2500 and new software and peripherals for the Amiga computers.Guests: Tom Stearns, Commodore; Lou Wallace, Amiga World; Dan Silva, Author; Jim Schneider, Inno; Vision; Gary Kildall, DRIProducts/Demos: Menace; Battle Chess; Amiga 2500 Deluxe Paint III, Video Effects 3D. Originally broadcast in March 1989. Copyright 1989 Stewart Cheifet Productions.
( 2 reviews )
Topics: Episode Year: 1989, Television Programs, Computers: History, amiga, commodore, battle chess

10,245 10K

Desktop Video 1990

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Today we take for granted the fact that we can watch video on our computers, but in the early 1990s, that was a big innovation. This program looks at early examples of desktop video on the Amiga, the Mac, and the IBM PC. Demonstrations include the Amiga 2500, the Amiga video authoring system, the Pionner LaserDisk player, MacroMind's Director 2.0 for the Mac IIx, the Avid/1 Media Composer, the DVA-4000 video controller from VideoLogic, and the use of desktop video at the NASA Ames research...
( 1 reviews )
Topics: amiga, macromedia, director, avid, videologic, macromind

9,212 9.2K

Big Thinkers

ITEMS

9,212

VIEWS

Jun 6, 2013 06/13

eye 9,212

Big Thinkers is a former ZDTV (later TechTV) television program. It featured a half-hour interview with a "big thinker" in science, technology, and other fields. The show was originally hosted by Mark Eddo, later replaced by John C. Dvorak. In 2001 the show changed its format, transforming from a weekly half-hour interview to a documentary-style program. This new format was initially referred to on the TechTV website as Big Thinkers 2.0. ,p> The new incarnation of the Big...

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Ben Baker, Ken Kaplan, That Old Frog (Ryugen Fisher) Part 1

7,165 7.2K

Dec 21, 2007 12/07

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview of Ken Kaplan, Ben Baker, and Ryugen Fisher (That Old Frog)in St. Louis Missouri, January of 2004. Hour 1 (of 3). Discussion of Fidonet politics, internal issues, triumphs of engineering, influence of Fidonet. Covers some parts of the ARC-ZIP battle, as well as why the various interviewees ultimately left the project. Shot in the same living room in which Fidonet's main implementation was created, at Ken Kaplan's house. The interview began with just Ken Kaplan and Ben Baker, and...
Topics: bbs, bbsdocumentary, interview, ryugen, fisher, ben, baker, ken, kaplan, fidonet

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Mark Nasstrom

6,860 6.9K

Aug 9, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Mark Nasstrom for BBS: The Documentary. Conducted on May 24th, 2003 in Seal Rock, Oregon. Discussions include running election results through BBSes, communication issues in sparsely populated areas, and Boardwatch magazine.
( 2 reviews )
Topics: bbs, documentary, nasstrom

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Minor Threat

6,202 6.2K

Aug 17, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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favorite 5

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Interview with Minor Threat, conducted in Austin, Texas, on January 30th, 2004. Minor Threat is most known as the creator and co-author of Tone Loc, a "wardialer" program that would connect to thousands of phones looking for carriers, voices, and other surprises in a phone exchange. However, this interview mostly focuses on his memories of both PD (public domain) BBSes and hacking BBSes; a section in the middle focuses on Tone Loc and the challenges associated with the program. The...
( 1 reviews )
Topics: bbs, documentary, minor threat

BBS Documentary Video: Introduction to TBBS Tape

5,668 5.7K

Nov 22, 2005 11/05

by eSoft, Inc.

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From the collection of Rev. Michael Chowning. This tape is an introduction the TBBS bulletin board software, hosted by Phil Becker and Alan D. Bryant. In this 43 minute tape, you are introduced to the basic ideas behind TBBS, usage of the software, setting up modems and menus, and other related tasks. Becker and Bryant demonstrate all the related concepts clearly and cleanly. Original format was VHS tape, and meant to be included with the 1993 releases of TBBS. Portions of the beginning of this...
( 1 reviews )
Topic: bbs,documentary,tbbs,esoft,bryant,becker

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Philip J. Kaplan

5,501 5.5K

Jan 24, 2006 01/06

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Philip J. Kaplan, "pud" of FUCKEDCOMPANY.COM, for BBS: The Documentary. Conducted on March 2nd, 2002 in New York City, NY. Questions center around running a BBS, pirate groups, modem costs, what makes a web forum or BBS worthwhile to post on, tips for inciting conversation, and speculations on the personality behind running a BBS. Contains profanity. The interview was conducted in a rehearsal space leased by Mr. Kaplan and his band, and so the sound is unusual in that...
( 1 reviews )
Topic: bbs documentary kaplan

BBS Documentary: Ebony Eyes

4,960 5.0K

Sep 14, 2006 09/06

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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favorite 1

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Interview with Ebony Eyes, ANSI artist from the late 1980s, for the BBS Documentary. Conducted on April 26, 2004. The last interview conducted for the BBS Documentary, a few days after the end of Notacon. Conducted with the assistance of RaD Man of ACiD. Subjects covered included working in the ANSI art form, favorite programs for drawing, WWIVnet and politics involved in it, and perspectives on the later ANSI Art Scene of the 1990s.
( 1 reviews )
Topics: bbs, documentary, ebony eyes, ansi

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Tracer[ACiD]

3,996 4.0K

Aug 12, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Tracer, artist for the ANSI art group ACiD. Conducted on March 8, 2004, in New York City, New York. Subjects discussed included ANSI art groups, switching groups based on opportunity, power structures of art groups, creating art in both ANSI and RIP graphics, and which artists Tracer found impressive. Post-BBS events are discussed as well. At the beginning of the interview, a heat pipe clanks occasionally during both questions and answers, and then calms down for the remaining...
( 4 reviews )
Topics: bbs, documentary, tracer

PopTech

2,975 3.0K

John Legend: Wake Up

May 25, 2012 05/12

by PopTech

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Accompanied only by his piano, Grammy award-winning recording artist and philanthropist John Legend performs the soulful "Wake Up" and "Shine" from his album, Wake Up!, including a song that appears on the soundtrack to the documentary Waiting for Superman.
Topics: PopTech, PopCasts, Music, Culture, PopTech 2010

Commodore 64 Training Tape with Jim Butterfield

2,814 2.8K

Aug 13, 2012 08/12

by Jim Butterfield

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This is a video tape which reflects on the best 8bit machine in the world. The COMMODORE 64. Jim Butterfield guides you through the basics on how to get the full gift from the C64 from setting it up and explaining how machine code works. There's also the use of the modem from the c64 for booking online flights and info.. There is everything on this video that you need to know about the computer. He even takes the casing off and explains on the chips, what they are called and what their purpose...
( 2 reviews )
Topics: Commodore 64, jim butterfield, training tape

BBS Documentary Interview: Bruce Fancher

2,592 2.6K

Sep 12, 2006 09/06

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Bruce Fancher, Dead Lord of Legion of Doom (LOD) and co-founder of the MindVox bulletin board and internet service provider, conducted on October 13, 2002 in New York City. Topics include TAP meetings, connecting to different bulletin boards, busts, the operations and internals of MindVox, hacker ethics and motivation, and opinions and thoughts about the mid 1990s explosion of interest in internet and politics. Some noise reduction is in place, and the interview was conducted...
Topics: bbs, bruce, fancher, documentary

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: MIlky and Liz (Part 1)

2,286 2.3K

Aug 27, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Milky Puppy and Liz, BBS users, in Toronto, Ontario on May 25, 2002. Subjects covered included early BBS use in Chicago and Toronto, various BBSes run by Milky and their unique themes, the YIP group, BBS Meets, co-sysop and sysop duties, Atari and Macintosh platforms, and points of pride or highlights from BBSes. This interview was conducted towards the beginning of the film cycle, when I had more of a "conversational" style to the interviews, meaning I am a notable...
Topics: bbs, documentary, milky

BBS Documentary Interview: b0b lee

2,142 2.1K

Sep 13, 2006 09/06

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with b0b lee, maintainer of the Steel Guitar Forum (http://steelguitarforum.com) and creator of the b0badel BBS software package. Conducted in Cloverdale, California on May 31, 2003. I was woken that morning in a hotel in the middle of Cloverdale with the news of the birth of my cousin's daughter, Rhiannon Marie. Interview subjects include the first time b0b encountered BBSes, real life meetings of BBS users, the unique experience of using BBSes, the b0badel software (and comparison...
Topics: bbs, documentary, b0b, lee, citadel

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Ben Baker, Ken Kaplan, That Old Frog (Ryugen Fisher) Part 2

2,047 2.0K

Dec 19, 2007 12/07

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview of Ken Kaplan, Ben Baker, and Ryugen Fisher (That Old Frog)in St. Louis Missouri, January of 2004. Hour 2. Discussion of Fidonet politics, internal issues, triumphs of engineering, influence of Fidonet. Covers calling old ladies by mistake, IFNA, Fidonet Cons, the troubles involved with running it. Shot in the same living room in which Fidonet's main implementation was created, at Ken Kaplan's house. It was during this portion of the interview that Ryugen Fisher (That Old Frog)...
Topics: bbs, bbsdocumentary, interview, ryugen, fisher, ben, baker, ken, kaplan, fidonet

G4 Video Grabs

1,981 2.0K

g4tv.com-video54396-flvhd: FOCUS - A G4 Films Presentation

Jun 14, 2013 06/13

by G4TV.com

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FOCUS is a riveting documentary presented by G4 Films and directed by Steve Hwang. Follow a year in the life of pro gamer Mike Ross as he prepares to do battle at EVO 2010 in Las Vegas.
Topics: G4TV.com videos, flvhd

Interview with Lynn Crumbling for BBS: The Documentary

1,846 1.8K

Nov 20, 2005 11/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Lynn Crumbling for BBS: The Documentary. Conducted on February 29, 2004 in York, Pennsylvania. Covered his early experiences with BBSes, his favorite boards, and influential figures in his early computing life that led him to his current career. Also a discussion about his favorite general computer memories.
Topics: bbs, documentary, crumbling

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Ben Baker, Ken Kaplan, That Old Frog (Ryugen Fisher) Part 3

1,624 1.6K

Dec 19, 2007 12/07

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview of Ken Kaplan, Ben Baker, and Ryugen Fisher (That Old Frog)in St. Louis Missouri, January of 2004. Hour 3. Discussion of Fidonet politics, internal issues, triumphs of engineering, influence of Fidonet. Covers some parts of the ARC-ZIP battle, as well as why the various interviewees ultimately left the project. Shot in the same living room in which Fidonet's main implementation was created, at Ken Kaplan's house. Slight video stream corruption (2-3 frames) at the beginning of the...
Topics: bbs, bbsdocumentary, interview, ryugen, fisher, ben, baker, ken, kaplan, fidonet

Nine complete BBC schools programmes 1970s/80

1,597 1.6K

Nov 13, 2012 11/12

by BBC

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favorite 2

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Nine complete BBC schools programmes 1970s/80 Most importantly, a note about the quality - presumably these have been rescued from various schools and the original tapes have had a hard life. While the overall quality is pretty good, there are lots of drop-outs on many of the recordings, both sound and vision. (Most of the tapes were very sticky and some of them recorded off less than optimal aerials.) While they've been cleaned up as much as possible, if you do decide to download, be prepared...
Topics: BBC, BBC School Programs

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Ted Beatie

1,583 1.6K

Jan 26, 2006 01/06

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Ted Beatie for BBS: The Documentary. Conducted on February 12, 2002 in Cambridge, MA. Discussions cover both the use of early modems, fitting in the dialing in of BBSes into a student's schedule, comparison to the MIT Zephyr and IRC chat systems, and an extended discussion in the experience of Diversi-dials. This interview was conducted in a highly conversational style, with both interviewer and interviewee talking equally at some times. Ted Beatie has a low-volume voice and as a...
Topic: bbs,documentary,beatie

BBS Documentary Interview: James Willing

1,576 1.6K

Nov 21, 2005 11/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with James Willing, conducted for BBS: The Documentary. Held on January 28, 2004, in Yates Center, Kansas. Willing ran what is definitely one of the first 10 and likely one of the first 5 dial-up bulletin boards, in 1978: CBBS-NW. A resident of the Pacific Northwest when the BBS was run, Willing moved to Yates Center, Kansas, to run a bowling alley, where the interview was conducted. Subjects covered included finding out about CBBS in Chicago, the drive to create his own BBS, phone...
Topics: bbs, documentary, willing

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Loren Jones

1,563 1.6K

Aug 14, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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Interview with Loren Jones, conducted on January 25th, 2004. Subjects covered mostly surrounded the RBBS BBS program, the figures involved, and the project management involved in the RBBS program. Concerns of early PC BBS ownership are discussed as well as the social events and friendships that could occur. Mr. Jones also discusses the process of making "RBBS in a Box", the all-in-one RBBS CD-ROM createdin the early 1990s. Mr. Jones coughs occasionally during the interview due to a...
Topics: bbs, documentary, jones

BBS Documentary Interview Collection: Ryan Brown

1,326 1.3K

Aug 17, 2005 08/05

by Jason Scott Sadofsky

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eye 496

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496 496

So Wrong They're Right

Nov 2, 2012 11/12

eye 496

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A documentary about obsessive 8-track tape collectors, the film documents a cross-country trip looking for those passionate few for whom the 70s never died.
Topics: 8-track, 8track, Russ Forster, Vyto B, James Burnette, Terry Burns

The Wikimania Archive

484 484

Wikimania-tape_019.mov

Nov 29, 2005 11/05

eye 484

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Download wikimania-tape_019.mov to edit wikipedia documentary. Smaller files (screeners) are also available.
Topic: wiki, wikimania, wikipedia, wikimentary, tape 019